One of the key services offered by a Bulletin Board is electronic
communication. Groups of people can discuss matters of mutual
interest with ease in “electronic conferences”.

There are three paradigms behind the electronic conference: the
conference, the publication and conversation. Each is an incomplete
analogy, just as attempting to describe the space shuttle in terms
of bicycles and steam engines is incomplete.

The conference analogy applies because a large group of people can
discuss a matter of mutual interest. Unlike a real conference,
though, there is no need for everyone to occupy the same place.
The electronic conference takes place over a short period of
time, and there is only rarely any organisation of who says what
when—a free for all is ok when everyone can hear and understand
everyone else.

The publication analogy applies because the discussions that take
place in an electronic conference are automatically recorded,
although there is little or no editing or central authority over
what is said, people are quite likely to dispose of their
recordings of the discussions. Please note that there are separate
electronic publications, which operate much like a traditional
magazine, except that, instead of being printed, the publication
is propagated on Bulletin Boards.

The best analogy is that of a conversation. A large quantity of
people get together and discuss a particular issue. The difference
between a conversation and an electronic conference is of course that
the communication occurs through a computer and a telephone, rather
than through air. Like a telephone conversation, geography has little
importance in deciding whether someone can take part. Like a
face–to–face conversation, an electronic conference is normally open
to all, and people have to go out to hold a private conversation.

I also think the latter analogy is important, because, of course,
and constraints put on Bulletin Boards has to face the question of
freedom of speech. I understand the current declaration on human
rights makes it very clear that technology cannot be used as a reason
to curtail freedom of speech.

Another way to illustrate electronic conferences is to compare them
to other methods of communication.

Public 2

Copied 1

Recorded 3

Delays 4

Electronic Conferences

YES

YES

YES

0 mins – 5 days

Face–to–face Conferences

MAYBE

YES

YES

Immediate

Conversation

MAYBE

NO

NO

Immediate

Publications

YES

YES

YES

weeks

Electronic Mail (“Email”)

NO

NO

YES

0 mins – 5 days

Telephone (“Voice Mail”)

NO

NO

NO

Immediate

Fax

NO

NO

YES

Immediate

The Post (“Snail Mail”)

NO

MAYBE

YES

1 – 30 days

Copied: Is communication automatically copied to many recipients?

Public: Can anyone listen in on the communication (note that
Electronic Mail is so leaky that it could be described as
being public—the technology needs a little tidying up).

Recorded: A letter and a fax is recorded on paper, electronic communications.
are recorded in computer files.

Time: Electronic mail etc. usually works by store and forward
methods, like normal post, and unlike a telephone call.
It is perfectly possible to transfer electronic mail.